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Jul 13, 2022

‘My happiest moment’: when Seve Ballesteros won the 1984 Open | Steven Pye

Ballesteros was neither in top form nor the favourite at St Andrews but produced one of sport’s most iconic momentsBy Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports BlogSeve Ballesteros was not having a great year in 1984. By the time the Open began in July, he had failed to win a tournament all season. He had even gone to the Masters as the defending champion and missed the cut. As a record crowd flocked to St Andrews, many golf fans wondered if the 27-year-old would be able to reverse his fortunes at the Home of Golf.Nick Faldo was hoping to end Great Britain’s 15-year wait for an Open champion and Greg Norman – who had been runner-up at the US Open...

Jul 30, 2019

A great golfing career comes to an end as Tom Watson finishes on 69 | Scott Murray

Ten years ago he almost pulled off a miracle at Turnberry and now the American is back in the clubhouse for the final timeIt seems like only yesterday. Yet it’s been 10 years since Tom Watson creamed that approach into the 18th at Turnberry, his ball taking a soft bounce and rolling gently towards the flag, stopping 18 inches from the cup. He tapped in for birdie, finishing the 2009 Open two clear of the second-placed nearly man Stewart Cink. As the gallery cavorted in ecstasy bordering on disbelief, Watson raised the Claret Jug. At a stately 59 years of age, he had become the oldest major champion, beating the record held by Julius Boros, the winner of the 1968...